The Southeast Produce Council updated its website earlier this month to give it a fresh, new look, adding some exciting functions that both grower- shippers and retailers should find quite useful. "The site looks more professional," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Aug. 18, noting that the site (www.seproducecouncil.com) went live just three days before. "We've added a few things," he noted. "One of the most important is a member search function," located right on the home page. "This will be a big advantage, particularly for grower-shippers ... and for retailers."

PHILADELPHIA -- After seven years of discussions, an agreement was finally reached that will make Philadelphia a pre-eminent produce hub by virtue of a new state-of-the-art produce terminal. "The deal is done," Sonny DiCrecchio, general manager of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, told The Produce News after he faxed his signature to the proper parties to finally seal the agreement that paves the way to construct the world's most-modern wholesale fresh produce market here. Mr. DiCrecchio said that he met with Philadelphia and Pennsylvania authorities Aug. 15 from the afternoon until

The Washington Apple Commission voted Aug. 4 to appoint Ken Severn as its interim president. This follows the commission's action to place David Carlson, who served as president of the commission for five years, on administrative leave, effective Sept. 1. Details about Mr. Carlson's removal as president have been slow to emerge. Personnel matters are protected under Washington's confidentiality guidelines. As a result, detailed background information about the board's decision is not available to the general public. The vote by the commission's board of directors to place Mr. Carlson on leave

Marc Glassman Inc., which owns 54 Marc's discount grocery stores in northeastern Ohio and six Xpect discount stores in Connecticut, has purchased the former Cleveland Growers Produce distribution facility in Parma, OH. MGI Produce anticipates that its new 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art refrigerated complex will be operational by the end of the year. Ed Tousel, former chief operating officer of Cleveland Growers, is now director of produce operations at MGI and will head the procurement and operations team, which will continue to provide the Marc's and Xpect stores with quality produce

Oregon's early Italian prune harvest got underway over the Aug. 9-10 weekend in Milton-Freewater, with growers expecting to see a 30 percent reduction in volume this year as the result of spring frost and a lack of pollination. The late prune harvest follows within a couple of weeks and will run through mid-September, according to Eric Patrick, marketing director for Grant J. Hunt Co., exclusive sales and marketing desk for Blue Mountain Growers in Milton-Freewater. The grower-shipper packs prunes in 30-pound bulk boxes, two-pound bags and clamshells, all under the "Blue Goose" label

Seald Sweet International in Vero Beach, FL, announced the retirement of Jim McCranie, senior vice president of exports, effective Sept. 1. Mr. McCranie will be succeeded by Les Crocker, who was formerly with A. Duda & Sons. Mr. McCranie was with Seald Sweet for over 41 years and played a key role in the development of its export programs, providing Asian and European customers with millions of cartons of fresh citrus during his career. He joined Seald Sweet in 1967 in the product placement department and later moved into sales. He advanced with the company over the years, becoming vice